Roswell Lee Evans

Doctor Roswell Lee Evans, originally from Georgia, is the current Dean of the Harrison School of Pharmacy at Auburn University[1] and an alleged expert on the use of the benzodiazepine, midazolam for carrying out the death penalty.

Beginning in April 2015, Evans' credibility and qualifications as an expert witness became heavily criticized when the case of Glossip v. Gross.[2] went before the Supreme Court of the United States of America. At this time, it was revealed that over 150 pages of his report he provided in his testimony came directly from the consumer website Drugs.com.[3][4][5][6]

Many have also criticized Evans’ opinion as an expert on midazolam due to his testimony regarding of the mechanism of action of benzodiazepines. Evans testified that;

“Midazolam attaches to GABA receptors, inhibiting GABA… that's what generates the clinical effect or the pharmacological effect from midazolam and all the other benzodiazepine drugs” and further stated “GABA receptors are responsible for anxiety disorders. So when you basically inhibit GABA, you basically begin to control those kind of symptoms”.[7]

These statements drew criticism as they describe the exact opposite of benzodiazepines, which actually work by enhancing the effect of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at the GABAA receptor. By enhancing the effects of GABA, benzodiazepines use results in sedative, hypnotic (sleep-inducing), anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), anticonvulsant, and muscle relaxant effects.

References

  1. ↑ "Harrison School of Pharmacy Faculty and Staff Directory".
  2. ↑ Whitmire, Kyle (April 28, 2015). "US Supreme Court death penalty case could turn on Auburn professor's credibility". Alabama Media Group.
  3. ↑ Mathis-Lilley, Ben (April 29, 2015). "Oklahoma Death Penalty "Expert" Named Roswell Lee Evans Did Much of His Research on Drugs.com". Slate.
  4. ↑ Waldman, Annie (April 28, 2015). "Key Expert in Supreme Court Lethal Injection Case Did His Research on Drugs.com: How the Supreme Court case over lethal injection shows it's becoming nearly impossible to find experts to defend the practice.". ProPublica.
  5. ↑ Lecher, Colin (April 29, 2015). "Lethal injection supporter uses Drugs.com printouts in Supreme Court testimony: Dr. Roswell Lee Evans references research that's not so scientific". The Verge.
  6. ↑ Totenberg, Nina (December 11, 2013). "Supreme Court Bolsters Prosecutors' Use Of Psychiatric Exam". NPR.
  7. ↑ "Warner v. Gross - Oklahoma - Dr. Evans Testimony". ProPublica. December 17, 2014.
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